Project Engineer

Project Engineer – 18 Month Fixed Term Contract

Location: Isle of Islay, Scotland
Contract: 18 Month Fixed Term Contract

The Opportunity

We are working with a leading manufacturing organisation within the drinks sector to recruit a Project Engineer for an exciting 18-month fixed term opportunity on the Isle of Islay.

This is a varied, hands-on role where you will take ownership of engineering and capital projects from initial concept and planning through to implementation and handover.

Working closely with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering and EHS teams, alongside external contractors and suppliers, you will help deliver projects focused on improving reliability, safety, sustainability, efficiency and production capability.

For someone looking for something a little different, the location is a major part of the opportunity. Islay offers the chance to live and work in one of Scotland's most distinctive locations, internationally renowned for its whisky industry and surrounded by some of the country's most impressive coastline and scenery. It offers a completely different lifestyle from the Central Belt while providing the opportunity to work at the heart of one of Scotland's most iconic industries.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead engineering and capital projects from concept through to completion and handover.
• Develop project scopes, specifications, schedules and budgets.
• Coordinate contractors, suppliers and third-party engineering partners.
• Work closely with operational teams to deliver projects safely while minimising disruption to production.
• Manage project costs, expenditure, forecasting and variations.
• Support the development and planning of future capital projects.
• Provide technical input, including interpreting drawings and preparing project documentation.
• Monitor project progress, budgets, risks and key milestones.
• Ensure projects are delivered in line with relevant health & safety, engineering and quality standards.
• Provide regular project updates to key stakeholders and senior management.

About You

We are keen to speak with experienced Project Engineers, Project Managers or Engineers with strong project delivery experience gained within a manufacturing, process or industrial environment.

Experience within distilling, brewing, food & drink or FMCG would be particularly relevant, although candidates from other engineering and manufacturing backgrounds are very much encouraged to apply.

You are likely to have experience of managing engineering projects through various stages of the project lifecycle and be comfortable working with contractors, operational teams and other stakeholders.

An engineering qualification or relevant technical background would be beneficial, as would experience of capital expenditure, project budgeting and technical drawings. Formal project management qualifications such as APM or PMP would also be advantageous but are not essential.

More important is a strong practical understanding of engineering project delivery, the ability to take ownership of projects and the communication skills to work effectively with people across different functions.

The Opportunity to Live & Work on Islay

For the right person, this is much more than an 18-month engineering contract.

Islay is one of Scotland's most famous whisky-producing regions, home to a unique concentration of historic distilleries and an engineering environment unlike almost anywhere else in the country.

Away from work, the island offers spectacular beaches, coastline, wildlife and outdoor pursuits, alongside a close-knit local community and a significantly different pace of life.

Whether you already have experience within the whisky industry or simply like the idea of combining an interesting engineering challenge with 18 months living and working on one of Scotland's most iconic islands, this is an opportunity well worth exploring.